Published Wednesday, 27 August, 2008 at 10:01 AM
Minister for Sustainability, Climate Change and Innovation
The Honourable Andrew McNamara
Parkside Holdings fined for toxic waste dumping
One of the state’s largest privately-owned family businesses was today fined $100,000 in the Gladstone District Court for allowing the burial of toxic waste at a sawmill near Many Peaks in central Queensland.
Parkside Holdings Pty Ltd and its employee Ronald John Bergman pleaded guilty to charges relating to the unauthorised disposal of more than 70 drums of copper chromium arsenate (CCA) waste at the Builyan Timber Mill.
Mr Bergman was fined $20,000 for his role in arranging for the burial of the waste. A conviction was recorded against Mr Bergman, but no conviction was recorded against Parkside Holdings.
Mr Bergman admitted to EPA investigators that he had arranged for the burial of 44-gallon drums of CCA waste sludge.
CCA is used to prevent damage to timber by insects, wood rot and wood fungus. It contains arsenic and chromium compounds that are both highly toxic and known to cause cancer. It is no longer used as a timber preserving agent because of the risks that it poses to the health of those who may come into contact with the material, or with timber treated with the chemical mixture.
Sustainability, Climate Change and Innovation Minister Andrew McNamara said it was disappointing to see people putting the environment and others around them at risk by disposing of hazardous waste inappropriately.
“There are licensed facilities where these substances can be properly disposed of, and burying a large quantity of toxic waste on the premises was reckless and irresponsible,” Mr McNamara said.
”Today’s judgement will hopefully serve as a warning to both employees and company directors that taking a short cut may save time and money in the short term, but will cost companies in the long run.
“The EPA is determined to ensure that unlawful acts such as this result in the clean up of contaminated sites so there is no threat to the community and environment.”
Since the EPA’s investigation of this incident, Parkside Holdings has taken action to bring the environmental management of all their sites across the state up to industry best practice standards.
In total around 200 drums of illegally dumped CCA waste have been recovered from Parkside’s Builyan sites, together with contaminated ash, sawdust and soil. The waste and other contaminated material has been moved to a disposal facility at Ipswich.
The EPA believes Parkside’s costs for clean up and rehabilitation at the Builyan sites will be more than $1 million.
The maximum penalty under section 430 of the Environmental Protection Act is $150,000 or 2 years imprisonment for an individual, or $750,000 for a corporation.
More information: Scott Dixon 333 68004/ 0439 761 416
Parkside Holdings Pty Ltd and its employee Ronald John Bergman pleaded guilty to charges relating to the unauthorised disposal of more than 70 drums of copper chromium arsenate (CCA) waste at the Builyan Timber Mill.
Mr Bergman was fined $20,000 for his role in arranging for the burial of the waste. A conviction was recorded against Mr Bergman, but no conviction was recorded against Parkside Holdings.
Mr Bergman admitted to EPA investigators that he had arranged for the burial of 44-gallon drums of CCA waste sludge.
CCA is used to prevent damage to timber by insects, wood rot and wood fungus. It contains arsenic and chromium compounds that are both highly toxic and known to cause cancer. It is no longer used as a timber preserving agent because of the risks that it poses to the health of those who may come into contact with the material, or with timber treated with the chemical mixture.
Sustainability, Climate Change and Innovation Minister Andrew McNamara said it was disappointing to see people putting the environment and others around them at risk by disposing of hazardous waste inappropriately.
“There are licensed facilities where these substances can be properly disposed of, and burying a large quantity of toxic waste on the premises was reckless and irresponsible,” Mr McNamara said.
”Today’s judgement will hopefully serve as a warning to both employees and company directors that taking a short cut may save time and money in the short term, but will cost companies in the long run.
“The EPA is determined to ensure that unlawful acts such as this result in the clean up of contaminated sites so there is no threat to the community and environment.”
Since the EPA’s investigation of this incident, Parkside Holdings has taken action to bring the environmental management of all their sites across the state up to industry best practice standards.
In total around 200 drums of illegally dumped CCA waste have been recovered from Parkside’s Builyan sites, together with contaminated ash, sawdust and soil. The waste and other contaminated material has been moved to a disposal facility at Ipswich.
The EPA believes Parkside’s costs for clean up and rehabilitation at the Builyan sites will be more than $1 million.
The maximum penalty under section 430 of the Environmental Protection Act is $150,000 or 2 years imprisonment for an individual, or $750,000 for a corporation.
More information: Scott Dixon 333 68004/ 0439 761 416